While enjoying the sandy beaches of the Golden Isles of Georgia, watch where you step! One of the most popular ocean residents of the region could be scurrying underfoot.
Loggerhead sea turtles emerge from the Atlantic Ocean every year to lay their eggs, leaving them behind to hatch. Some females lay clutches every two weeks and people often clamor on the beaches to see the ritual occur.
There are seven different types of sea turtles in the world and most are threatened or endangered. In an effort to help keep these species thriving, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island aims to help those that are injured or ill with the end goal of releasing them back into the wild, if possible.
Folks may visit the sea turtle education and rehabilitation facility year-round and partake in indoor and outdoor programs, experiences and exhibits. Guests may even symbolically adopt a sea turtle patient at the facility with the money going toward food and medicine.
One of the most popular events at the center are turtle walks. Guests meet with a guide during the evening to go over the journey that baby sea turtles will undergo from birth to going back to the sea. If your group is lucky, you may get to see newly born babies. The event is only held during the months of June and July because that is when nests are the most active. Only 15 spots are available for each event so be sure to get tickets ahead of time.
By Gina Gallucci-White